Bataireacht
Encyclopedia
Bataireacht is the term used in Irish martial arts
traditionally applied to various forms of stick fighting
. Today the word bataireacht is used amongst Irish and English language speakers to distinguish between traditional and non-traditional stick-fighting styles.
. The term is found in most large format Irish language dictionaries such as those published by An Gum and by Patrick Dinneen. Researcher and author John W. Hurley attributes the reintroduction of the term into modern usage among English speaking practitioners of Irish stick-fighting to his works, which was where the term first appeared in modern popular culture.
"Bata" is a general Irish term which can mean any kind of stick. The actual bata or stick used for bataireacht is often referred to as a "Sail-Éille
" which is anglicised as "shillelagh". The word "cudgel" is also used in period texts as a word for shillelagh. Blackthorn, oak, ash and hazel were traditionally the most common types of woods used to make shillelagh fighting sticks. Some evidence exists which indicates that, prior to the 19th Century, the term had been used to refer to a form of stick-fencing used to train Irish soldiers in broadsword and sabre techniques.
By the 18th century bataireacht became increasingly associated with Irish gangs called "factions". Irish faction fights involved large groups of men (and sometimes women) who engaged in melees at county fairs, weddings, funerals, or any other convenient gathering. One social historian, Conley, believed that this reflected a culture of recreational violence. Most historians however agree that faction fighting had class and political overtones, as depicted for example in the works of William Carleton
and James S. Donnelly's "Irish Peasants: Violence & Political Unrest, 1780".
By the early 19th century these gangs had organized into larger regional federations, which coalesced from the old Whiteboys
, into the Caravat and Shanavest factions. Beginning in Munster
the Caravat and Shanavest "war" erupted sporadically throughout the 19th century and caused some serious disturbances.
, the United States
, Canada
and Germany
. Bataireacht has also gained popularity amongst non-Irish people, especially in the United States, as a form of self defense, especially as a cane or walking stick can be easily carried in modern society. As with most martial arts, multiple versions exist.
A few forms of bataireacht survive to this day, some of which are traditional styles specific to the family which carried them down through the years, like the "Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha" (whiskey stick dance) of the Doyle family of Newfoundland
, taught in Canada, the United-States and Germany. Others styles have survived in the techniques used in the sport of hurling and in military sabre fencing.
Additionally, members of the Western Martial Arts
movement have "reconstructed" styles using period martial arts manuals, historical newspaper articles, magazines, pictorial evidence and court documents. Surviving instructional manuals which describe some use of the shillelagh include those by Rowland Allanson-Winn
and Donald Walker.
Irish martial arts
There are a number of traditional martial arts styles native to Ireland.The Irish language term for "martial arts" is .Traditional styles include Dornálíocht , Coraíocht , Speachóireacht , and Batadóireacht .- Boxing :Dornálaíocht, pronounced "durn-awly-okt" is the Irish word for boxing, dorn...
traditionally applied to various forms of stick fighting
Stick fighting
Stick fighting is a generic term for martial arts which use simple long slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden 'sticks' for fighting such as a staff, cane, walking stick, baton or similar....
. Today the word bataireacht is used amongst Irish and English language speakers to distinguish between traditional and non-traditional stick-fighting styles.
Definition
Bataireacht is a term used to describe the various stickfighting martial arts of IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The term is found in most large format Irish language dictionaries such as those published by An Gum and by Patrick Dinneen. Researcher and author John W. Hurley attributes the reintroduction of the term into modern usage among English speaking practitioners of Irish stick-fighting to his works, which was where the term first appeared in modern popular culture.
"Bata" is a general Irish term which can mean any kind of stick. The actual bata or stick used for bataireacht is often referred to as a "Sail-Éille
Shillelagh (club)
A shillelagh is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top, that is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore.- Construction :...
" which is anglicised as "shillelagh". The word "cudgel" is also used in period texts as a word for shillelagh. Blackthorn, oak, ash and hazel were traditionally the most common types of woods used to make shillelagh fighting sticks. Some evidence exists which indicates that, prior to the 19th Century, the term had been used to refer to a form of stick-fencing used to train Irish soldiers in broadsword and sabre techniques.
History
The Irish have used various sticks and cudgels as weapons of self-defense for centuries. Since ancient times, the arts of stick fighting had been handed down from fathers to sons or learned in traditional military fencing schools. The shillelagh is still identified with Irish popular culture to this day, although the arts of bataireacht are much less so. The sticks used for bataireacht are not of a standardised size, as there are various styles of bataireacht, using various kinds of sticks.By the 18th century bataireacht became increasingly associated with Irish gangs called "factions". Irish faction fights involved large groups of men (and sometimes women) who engaged in melees at county fairs, weddings, funerals, or any other convenient gathering. One social historian, Conley, believed that this reflected a culture of recreational violence. Most historians however agree that faction fighting had class and political overtones, as depicted for example in the works of William Carleton
William Carleton
William Carleton was an Irish novelist.Carleton's father was a Roman Catholic tenant farmer, who supported fourteen children on as many acres, and young Carleton passed his early life among scenes similar to those he later described in his books...
and James S. Donnelly's "Irish Peasants: Violence & Political Unrest, 1780".
By the early 19th century these gangs had organized into larger regional federations, which coalesced from the old Whiteboys
Whiteboys
The Whiteboys were a secret Irish agrarian organization in 18th-century Ireland which used violent tactics to defend tenant farmer land rights for subsistence farming...
, into the Caravat and Shanavest factions. Beginning in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
the Caravat and Shanavest "war" erupted sporadically throughout the 19th century and caused some serious disturbances.
Modern practice
The modern practice of bataireacht has arisen amongst some practitioners from a desire to maintain or reinstate Irish family traditions, while for others a combination of historical and cultural interest has led to their interest. Practitioners, which started independently of each other, exist in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Bataireacht has also gained popularity amongst non-Irish people, especially in the United States, as a form of self defense, especially as a cane or walking stick can be easily carried in modern society. As with most martial arts, multiple versions exist.
A few forms of bataireacht survive to this day, some of which are traditional styles specific to the family which carried them down through the years, like the "Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha" (whiskey stick dance) of the Doyle family of Newfoundland
Irish Newfoundlanders
In modern Newfoundland , many Newfoundlanders are of Irish descent. According to the Statistics Canada 2006 census, 21.5% of Newfoundlanders claim Irish ancestry...
, taught in Canada, the United-States and Germany. Others styles have survived in the techniques used in the sport of hurling and in military sabre fencing.
Additionally, members of the Western Martial Arts
Western Martial Arts
Western Martial Arts refers to formalized fighting techniques and skills of European or generally Western origin, as distinct from those originating in Asia....
movement have "reconstructed" styles using period martial arts manuals, historical newspaper articles, magazines, pictorial evidence and court documents. Surviving instructional manuals which describe some use of the shillelagh include those by Rowland Allanson-Winn
Rowland Allanson-Winn, 5th Baron Headley
thumb|Lord Headley with [[Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din]]Rowland George Allanson Allanson-Winn, 5th Baron Headley , also known as Shaikh Rahmatullah al-Farooq, was an Irish peer and a prominent convert to Islam, who was also one of the leading members of the Woking Muslim Mission alongside Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din...
and Donald Walker.